Re: Mesozoic gliding mammal

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

jrc writes: 

> ----- Original Message -----  
>
> > As I read the paper, the current count is that the general morphology of 
> > a
> > gliding patagium stretched between the fore and hind legs and with no
> > internal skeletal support has evolved at least nine separate times in
> > various mammal(-iform) lineages: the new beastie, the presumed but so-far
> > undiscovered ancestor of bats,
>
> Since bat patagia have an internal skeletal support (the fingers), isn't 
> it likely that their ancestor did also?

Isn't it also possible that a fore/hindlimb gliding patagium in bat 
ancestors simply migrated further up the forelimb, with webbing later 
forming between the digits and eventually fusing with the original patagium? 

___________________________________________________________________ 

Dann Pigdon
GIS / Archaeologist         http://www.geocities.com/dannsdinosaurs
Melbourne, Australia        http://heretichides.soffiles.com
___________________________________________________________________